Printing plate



Julie 23, 1931. s, ANTHONY 1,811,815

PRINTING PLATE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 M/VVW 24 Iii 30/ 9 Mr John T. SmithTech Chambers 15 70 8 lrvingtonSt I sostomMass 16 Dear Sir: 13 3 13 rflPM 33 2o 31 2 19 rUimZ 1' (Idol. .TM

z'ledmsdl) rbsT s .32 noJgnivftI 8 22 22 24' 225M noizofi IN VENT OR anBY Patented June 23, 19311 UNITED STATES PATENT r;

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. STANLEY 'ANTHONY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGrNOIR TOADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE PRINTING PLATE Application filed November 21, 1929. Serial No.408,39.

This invention relates to printing devices and more particularly toprinting plates adapted for use in a holder frame of the type thatpermits removal of the printing plate 7 and the substitution of anotherat will.

The commercial use of printing plate frames, which hold an identifyingcard-as well'as a printing plate and are stored in accordance with thecards as an index, require 10 many changes in the cards and consequentlyin the related printing plate. It is an object of this invention toimprove the printing plate in a manner to insure its 'insertion,in

correct printingposition in the frame, both I to the recess in theprinting'plate frame designed to receive it. I

The metal frame 10 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 quickly and accurately. Afurther. object of the invention is to provide a printing plate, forinsertion in the standard frames, of such 'form orfedge configurationas'vto permit an accurate stamping thereon of more lines of printedmatter than is possible on printing plates nowgenerally in use. p To theaccomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereinafterappear, as will readily be understood'by those skilled in theart, theinvention comprises the features and combinations of-parts hereinafterdescribed and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The features and scope of the invention will best be understood from adescription. of the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates the manner in whichthe improved printing plates are cut from a strip 10f suitable metal;

Fig. 2 illustratesprobable steps in the insertion of one of the improvedprinting plates into aprinting plate frame and Fig. 3 illustrates one ofthe improved printing plates, filled substantially from edge to edgewith an address stamping, in printing position in the frame- It must beunderstood that the purpose of this invention is to improve uponconditions that have been found detrimental in the use of standardequipment of the type illustrated. Accordingly the printing plate ofthis invention must be of such dimensions as to fit the printing platerecess provided on standard printing plate frames now in use. Thismeans, in present day practice, that the greatest width of the printingplate is one inch.

"In the accompanying drawings I have shown a plate of 1 x 3 inches,outside dimensions, as illustrative of a standard size.

The improved printing plate, the preferred embodiment of which is shownin the drawings, is designed to utilize what may be termed the printingwidth of a printing plate to the best advantage by building up thematerial along the edges where it is most needed while still preservingan edge of the kind that will permit, and even aid, hasty andunjustified presentation of the end of the printing plate illustratesthe present commercial standard formfor use in addressing machines. The

upper half is stamped with a. continuous edge A stamped-up end stop'16prevents loss of the card. The lower half is stamped with a continuousedge channel 18, with opposed end stops 22, forming-a recess forreceiving a printing plate corresponding to the address card and holdingitv in position for printing.

It is of the utmost importance that the printing plate be designed topermit the worker to slip it into place within the channels 18, 19, 20and 21 without efiort and speed- 'ily. All danger of the plate stickingwhen partly inserted must be eliminated. Accordingly) the printingplates 24 are provided with a lo gitudinal edge configuration that willpermit immediate and progressive'insertion of the plate within thechannels however careless may be the presentation of the leading end tothese channels. For absolute effi- 'ciency the longitudinal edges mustbe designed to pevent a j am-lock against the leading corner 26 of thechannel 18 or against the leading corner 28 of the channel 21 when'anangular presentation of the printing plate 24 is made, as indicated bythe dotted line channel12 and below it are opposed channels 13 and acorner-pocket 14: forming a recess. for-receiving an address an indexcard 15.

position on Fig. 2. Sticking of the forward end of a plate within thechannels is overcome by providing an edge configuration that invariablycams off or slips past the leading corners 26 and/or 28 of the. channelsif the plate has been presented angula'rly to the mouth of the recess,and thus turns or guides it under pressure of the worker into what maybe termed a right-line position with respect to the channels. The plateis then in such position that it may be slipped easily and quickly intoits position in the recess, as indicated by the full line position onFig. 2.

To gain this end the plate is provided with sinuous or serpentine upperand lower edges the sinuation for best results being constant throughouteach margin of the plate, that is, the distances between the centers ofany two nodes or emarginations are equal. The depth of each sinus issubstantially inch, leaving an inside width dimension of 7 inch on aplate of standard size, but because of the relatively short undulation,preferably about 7 inch, the effective inside dimension or printingwidth is increased somewhat as will presently be made clear. Theprovision of edges formed wholly by curves which cannot offer resistanceto pressure when engaged with the corners or shoulders 26 and/or 28 ismost advantageous in gaining a speedy insertion .of the plate becausethe danger of ment havlng been speclfically described,

sticking on a substantially perfect right-line presentation is preventedand when an angular presentation is attempted the natural pressureexerted to force the plate inward causes it to turn on the stickingpoints 26 and/or 28, as fulcrums, into its correct position for completeinsertionjn the frame recess. In Fig. 2 the dotted line position shows aplate 24 partially inserted but apparently jammed by an engagement ofits third loweredge node with the corner 26 and its first,

upper-edge node with the corner 28. But

due to the convex curvature of these nodes continued pressure causesthese apparent obstructions immediately to slip past the corners and indoing so automatically turn the plate into its right-line or correctposition for entry in the recess. All this occurs in one movement. It isunnecessary to remove the plate and re-insert it more carefully as isnow necessary with plates that jam tightly when incorrectly presented.

Referring again to the increased printing width provided on standardprinting plates the serpentine edge is effective to remove as littlematerial as possible, i. e. the depressions between the nodes of theedge, that cause the narrowing of the printing width, have substantiallyno length because the curved outline serves quickly to build up materialon each side of the low or depressed point. Therefore, when stamping aplate with an address or other matter the upper and lower lines of printcan be placed very near the edge and still have sufficient platematerial outside of the line to prevent deformation of the stampedletters. The novel edge configuration permits an extra line successfullyto be stamped in a plate as shown by Fig. 3.

It also is important that the plate be so formed as to permit the workerto determine instantaneously which edge must be held uppermost forengagement in the channels 19, 20, 21, so the plate will be inserted inposition for correct printing. Accordingly the sinuous edge of the knifewhich severs the plates 24 from the strip material 30 (Fig. 1)

is so proportioned that the severance at each edge of the strip is atthe center of a sinus. After severance one serpentine edge willterminate at each end in a half-depression 32 and the other serpentineedge will terminate at each end in a half-node 34. Each edge has,

therefore, its own distinctive end characterwhat is claimed as new, 1s

1. A printing plate comprising a metal strip for use in a holder havingretaining means with which the plate engages to seat it in printingposition, said strip being of greater length than width and bothlongitudinal edges thereof having a sinuous or serpentine outline.

2. A printing plate comprising a metal strip of greater length thanwidth adaptedto be slipped endwise within channels stampedup from thematerial of a metal holder, and each longitudinal edge of said stripbeing formed by a succession of curved nodes and depressions so arrangedthat the nodes at one edge are transversely opposite the depressions atthe other edge whereby the insertion of said longitudinal edges withinsaid channels is facilitated.

STANLEY ANTHONY.

